Dizzy Reece

by Scott Yanow Dizzy Reece is a fine hard bop trumpeter who has been overshadowed by the innovators of the style. He started on trumpet when he was 14 and moved to Europe in 1949. It was while he was based in England (1954-1959) that he achieved some recognition through a series of recordings with top English musicians, plus a 1958 date with Donald Byrd. He moved to New York in 1959 but, after a few notable recordings and a bit of publicity, Reece seemed to largely fade away despite remaining active. He was with the Dizzy Gillespies orchestra in 1968 and the Paris Reunion Band in 1985.